Disposable intra-luminal ultrasonic instrument

Abstract

The disposable intra-luminal ultrasonic instrument for the examination and/or treatment of blood vessels and similar lumina has a small transverse cross-section. The instrument includes a catheter comprising a body and a tip having a distal end and a distal portion adapted to be introduced into a lumen and a proximal portion. The catheter has a diameter no greater than 3 millimeters, a rotatable member in the tip, a small motor in the tip and coupled to the rotatable member for rotating the rotatable member at a selected rpm, and means for generating and supplying sound waves to, the rotatable member at a frequency no greater than 60 megahertz.

We claim: 
     
       1. A disposable intra-luminal catheter probe type ultrasonic instrument for the examination and/or treatment of blood vessels having a small transverse cross-section, said instrument including a flexible, guidewire receiving, catheter comprising a body and a tip having a distal end and a distal end portion adapted to be introduced into a lumen of a blood vessel and a proximal portion, said catheter having a diameter no greater than 3 millimeters, and a small motor in said tip having a length no greater than approximately 6 millimeters, a diameter no greater than approximately 2.4 millimeters and drive shaft extending from one end of said motor, a rotatable member having an acoustical mirror face mounted in said tip and one said drive shaft for being rotated by said motor at a selected rpm synchronized with a raster across a visual display to which echoes of sound waves received by said mirror face are supplied, the angular position of the acoustic mirror face being oriented to correspond to the angle of an echo display line on the visual display, and means including a transducer facing said mirror face for generating and supplying sound waves along an axis of propagation to said rotatable acoustical mirror face at a frequency no greater than 60 megahertz for reflection therefrom to obtain a sufficient depth of field with sufficient resolution to determine the makeup or constitution of the matter, such as tissue or plaque, in the space being investigated around said catheter tip, said rotatable acoustic mirror face being located in said distal end portion, and said mirror face lying in a plane that intersects, at an angle, the axis of the drive shaft and the axis of the propagation of sound waves from said means for generating sound waves. 
     
     
       2. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said motor has a side which faces toward said distal end and said drive shaft extends from said side facing said distal end. 
     
     
       3. The instrument of claim 2 wherein said transducer is mounted in said tip between said rotatable member and said motor and has a central passageway therethrough through which said drive shaft extends. 
     
     
       4. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said drive shaft extends proximally from said distal end of said catheter tip, and said transducer is positioned in said tip opposite said mirror face, which faces proximally from said distal end of said catheter tip. 
     
     
       5. The instrument of claim 2 wherein said transducer is mounted within said distal end portion at said distal end of said catheter tip and faces proximally toward said mirror face which faces distally. 
     
     
       6. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said motor has a length no greater than approximately 4 millimeters and a diameter no greater than approximately 1 millimeter. 
     
     
       7. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said catheter includes electrical conductors for supplying electric power to said motor and to said sound wave generating means. 
     
     
       8. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said catheter has a central channel that also extends through said sound wave generating means and through said shaft through and to said distal end of said tip distal end portion, and said instrument includes a flexible guidewire which is extendable through said central channel. 
     
     
       9. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said sound waves are generated at a frequency of between approximately 15 and 45 megahertz. 
     
     
       10. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said means for generating sound waves are constructed and arranged to generate sound waves at a frequency of approximately 30 megahertz. 
     
     
       11. A disposable intra-luminal catheter probe type ultrasonic instrument for the examination and/or treatment of blood vessels lumina having a small transverse cross-section, said instrument including a flexible, guidewire receiving, catheter comprising a body and a tip having a distal end and a distal end portion adapted to be introduced into a lumen of a blood vessel and a proximal portion, said catheter having a diameter no greater than 3 millimeters, a rotatable member having an acoustical mirror face mounted in said tip, a small motor mounted in said tip and having a drive shaft mounting said rotatable member for rotating said rotatable member at a selected rpm, and mean including a transducer facing said mirror face for generating and supplying sound waves to said rotatable member along an axis of propagation at a frequency no greater than 60 megahertz for reflection by said mirror face to obtain a sufficient depth of field with sufficient resolution to determine the makeup or constitution of the matter, such as tissue or plaque, in the space being investigated around said catheter tip, said mirror face lying in a plane that intersects, at an angle, the axis of the drive shaft and the axis of propagation of sound waves from said means for generating sound waves, said motor having a side which faces toward said distal end, said drive shaft extending from said side facing said distal end, and said transducer being mounted in said tip between said rotatable member and said motor and having a central passageway therethrough through which said drive shaft extends.